Memento Mori: Pompeii mosaic of a wealthy man who lost his dog in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius

The stunning Memento Mori mosaic was discovered in a Roman mansion that doubled as a store in Pompeii, and is one of the most famous works of art in this ill-fated city.

The mosaic was excavated in 1874, measures 18.5 by 16.1 inches (47 by 41 centimeters), and is made of hundreds of small, colorful square tiles. There is clearly a monkey skull in the center of the mosaic, but the rest of the image is often overlooked.

According to the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, which owns the mosaic, above the skull is a spirit level with a wire supporting a hanging plumb bob, a tool used to ensure that construction is level or vertical. A colorful butterfly perches under the skull, perhaps a metaphor for the soul. Below it is a wheel, probably symbolizing good luck. The sides of the skull tied to the edge of the level have a scepter and purple cloak on the left, and a beggar’s staff and saddlebags on the right. This juxtaposition suggests a perfect balance between power and wealth on the one hand and poverty on the other.

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“The subject matter of the mosaic represents a warning to homeowners,” according to the museum’s Italian translation of the text. “People can be rich or poor, but in the face of death we are all equal in the end.”

The mosaic was discovered in the triclinium, or dining room, of a house converted into a leather tannery. Based on a charcoal inscription near the entrance, the property may belong to a man named M. Vesonius Primus. In addition to the only tannery found in Pompeii, Vesonius owned a leather factory that handled the washing and dyeing of clothing. This mosaic may have encouraged Vesonius to memento mori (remember that you will die someday).

Skull art depicting memento mori remained popular in Europe for thousands of years. For example, archaeologists have discovered gold Memento Mori rings from Tudor England and Renaissance Memento Mori rings from Germany.

Vesonius, like thousands of other Romans, likely fled the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, when his guard dog was found in the rubble, writhing as if trying to escape its collar and chain.

For more amazing archaeological discoveries, check out our Astonishing Artifacts archive.